Sports Reporter :
Zimbabwe Cricket team registered a consolation eight-wicket win over Bangladesh Cricket team in their fifth Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital on Sunday.
Despite Zimbabwe’s victory, the Tigers clinched the T20I series 4-1 and failed to whitewash the tourists.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh piled up a fighting total of 157 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Zimbabwe coasted home making 158 for the loss of two wickets when they hade 9 balls to spare.
Bangladesh faced a disaster as they lost their early three wickets for 15 runs.
One-down Najmul Hossain Shanto and third-down Mahmudullah Riyad mended the innings contributing together 69 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Shanto was caught at the backward square leg by Ryan Burl off Wellington Masakadza when the Tigers’ total was 84 for the loss of four wickets.
Shanto made 36 from 38 deliveries featuring five fours and a sixer.
After Shanto’s dismissal, Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan added 39 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Shakib was caught at the mid wicket by Johnathan Campbell off Luke Jogwe when the hosts’ score was 123 for the loss of five wickets.
Shakib scored 21 from 17 balls including one sixer.
After Shakib’s departure, Mahmudullah Riyad could not stay at the crease as he was caught at the extra cover by Sikandar Raza off Blessing Muzarabani when the home side’s total was 128 for the loss of six wickets.
Riyad hit a superb 54. His 44-ball innings had six fours and one sixes.
Then, Jaker Ali and Mohammad Saifuddin scored together 29 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
Jaker Ali remained unbeaten with 24. His 11-ball innings had two sixes and one four.
Later, Zimbabwe had a good start as the two openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani put on together 38 runs in the opening stand before Marumani (1) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Jaker Ali off Shakib Al Hasan.
Bennett and Sikandar Raza added together 75 runs for the second wicket partnership before Bennett was caught at the long-on by Rishad Hossain off Saifuddin when Zimbabwe’s score was 113 for the loss of two wickets.
Bennett hit a polished 70. He hit five sixes and five fours in his 49-ball innings. Earlier, Bennett bagged two wickets in the space of 20 runs. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
After Bennett departure, Sikandar and Campbell guided their team to anchor the victory target scoring altogether 45 runs in the unbroken third wicket partnership.
Sikandar remained unbeaten with 72 runs. His 46-ball knock had four sixes and six fours.
Shakib and Saifuddin took one wicket apiece.
Pacer Taskin Ahmed captured eight wickets in four matches. He was adjudged the Player of the Series.